0 Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. The Sun and its cycle have been an important part of worship in India. On this day, this short quiz takes you through the famous Sun temples of India. Like the antiquity of Sun worship, the status of the temples also reflects the long history. Some have been destroyed, some, even with the destruction retain their glory. Some others still host Sun worship and some have left a lasting impression on local traditions. Do take this quiz and see how many you can recognize. Just seven questions each marking a day of the modern week. The picture above is a Surya sculpture from the Guwahati museum, Assam. Picture Credit: Ramanujam S. R 1 / 7 A famous medieval sun temple, in present day Pakistan, was among the first temples to be sacked by Arab invaders. It was destroyed by Muhammed bin Qasim who led the expedition to capture Sindh between 708-11 CE. In which city was it located? Rawalpindi Lahore Peshawar Multan Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveller who came to India in the 7th century CE refers to the Multan temple with a golden deity. It was first sacked by bin Qasim. The devotees rebuilt the temple with a different idol made of wood and covered by red Cordovan leather. The popularity of the temple was such that the Muslim rulers used the idol as a hostage to deter any attempts to reconquer Multan. A Persian chronicler Istakhari noted in 951CE, “when the Indians make war upon them and endeavour to seize the idol, the inhabitants bring it out, pretending that they will break it and burn it. Upon this the Indians retire.” The temple was destroyed and rebuilt a few more times being finally destroyed in the reign of Aurangzeb. The site is now lost. The picture is that of devotees at Sunrise in Kanyakumari, the southern tip of the mainland. A structure can disappear, but the faith stays. Source: Flight of Deities & Rebirth of Temples. Meenakshi Jain. Picture Credit: S. R Ramanujam Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveller who came to India in the 7th century CE refers to the Multan temple with a golden deity. It was first sacked by bin Qasim. The devotees rebuilt the temple with a different idol made of wood and covered by red Cordovan leather. The popularity of the temple was such that the Muslim rulers used the idol as a hostage to deter any attempts to reconquer Multan. A Persian chronicler Istakhari noted in 951CE, “when the Indians make war upon them and endeavour to seize the idol, the inhabitants bring it out, pretending that they will break it and burn it. Upon this the Indians retire.” The temple was destroyed and rebuilt a few more times being finally destroyed in the reign of Aurangzeb. The site is now lost. The picture is that of devotees at Sunrise in Kanyakumari, the southern tip of the mainland. A structure can disappear, but the faith stays. Source: Flight of Deities & Rebirth of Temples. Meenakshi Jain. Picture Credit: S. R Ramanujam 2 / 7 One of the famous pilgrimage sites of India also was the location of 14 Sun temples. These were razed after 12th century but remnants of them still are worshipped. Which pilgrimage site is this? Varanasi Haridwar Somnath Vrindavan The first sections of the Kashi Khanda list 12 adityas in Varanasi. Later chapters give descriptions of two more adityas (Sumantvaditya and Karnaditya), bringing the number of temples and shrines up to fourteen. Each of the original fourteen aditya temples of Varanasi was razed by invaders. However, the adityas remained in the communal memory of the city. Today, the fourteen adityas are marked by a variety of small and unpretentious features such as carved Sun disks, lotus-form stones or images of Surya, which are set into walls, installed in small shrines or the precincts of temples. The picture is of Lolarka Kunda in Varanasi, which has an image of trembling Sun. Source: Malville, J. McKim and Singh, Rana P.B. 1995 i. Visual astronomy in the mythology and ritual of India: The Sun temples of Varanasi. Picture Credit: Rana P.B. Singh The first sections of the Kashi Khanda list 12 adityas in Varanasi. Later chapters give descriptions of two more adityas (Sumantvaditya and Karnaditya), bringing the number of temples and shrines up to fourteen. Each of the original fourteen aditya temples of Varanasi was razed by invaders. However, the adityas remained in the communal memory of the city. Today, the fourteen adityas are marked by a variety of small and unpretentious features such as carved Sun disks, lotus-form stones or images of Surya, which are set into walls, installed in small shrines or the precincts of temples. The picture is of Lolarka Kunda in Varanasi, which has an image of trembling Sun. Source: Malville, J. McKim and Singh, Rana P.B. 1995 i. Visual astronomy in the mythology and ritual of India: The Sun temples of Varanasi. Picture Credit: Rana P.B. Singh 3 / 7 The Hindi film Haidar had a song filmed at the ruins of a sun temple built by the great Kashmiri king Lalitaditya Mukatapida of the Karakota dynasty. He ruled in the first half of the 8th century CE. He is sometimes described as a world conqueror having defeated kings from Central Asia to Bengal and from Kanauj to the Deccan. What is name of this temple? Sharda Peeth Vaishnaodevi Shankaracharya Hill Martand Martand was a famous Sun temple. Legend connects the spring of Martand tirtha with the production of the Sun from a lifeless egg (mrtanda). The temple was destroyed by the Kashmiri king Sikander Shah (1389-1413CE) called Butsikhan (Iconoclast). A British explorer Francis Younghusband, described it as, “the finest structure, typical of Kashmiri architecture at its best, built on the most sublime site occupied by any building in the world, far finer than the site of Parthenon, or of the Taj, or of St Peters, or of the Escurial.” Source: Flight of Deities & Rebirth of Temples. Meenakshi Jain. Picture Credit: Varun Shiv Kapur Flickr Martand was a famous Sun temple. Legend connects the spring of Martand tirtha with the production of the Sun from a lifeless egg (mrtanda). The temple was destroyed by the Kashmiri king Sikander Shah (1389-1413CE) called Butsikhan (Iconoclast). A British explorer Francis Younghusband, described it as, “the finest structure, typical of Kashmiri architecture at its best, built on the most sublime site occupied by any building in the world, far finer than the site of Parthenon, or of the Taj, or of St Peters, or of the Escurial.” Source: Flight of Deities & Rebirth of Temples. Meenakshi Jain. Picture Credit: Varun Shiv Kapur Flickr 4 / 7 Suryanar Temple is a well known Surya temple. It is part of a unique group nine temples which are dedicated to the worship of Navagrahas or nine planets. In which Indian State is this located? Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Kerala Tamil Nadu Suryanar Kovil is located near the village of Aduthurai, near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. It is also close to the Great Living Chola Temples of the Tanjore region. Suryanar Kovil is a part of a group of nine temples, each dedicated to one of the Nava Grahas. They are popularly visited as the Navagraha circuit. The presiding deity here is Suriyanar, the Sun, present along with his two consorts Ushadevi and Pratyusha Devi. The temple also has subsidiary shrines for the other eight Navagrahas. Source: Navagraha Temples of the Tanjor Disctrict. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Picture Credit: P Jeganathan Wikicommons Suryanar Kovil is located near the village of Aduthurai, near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. It is also close to the Great Living Chola Temples of the Tanjore region. Suryanar Kovil is a part of a group of nine temples, each dedicated to one of the Nava Grahas. They are popularly visited as the Navagraha circuit. The presiding deity here is Suriyanar, the Sun, present along with his two consorts Ushadevi and Pratyusha Devi. The temple also has subsidiary shrines for the other eight Navagrahas. Source: Navagraha Temples of the Tanjor Disctrict. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Picture Credit: P Jeganathan Wikicommons 5 / 7 This unknown Sun Temple is in the Himalayas and is 1000 years old. Where is this Sun Temple? Uttarakhand Manipur Himachal Pradesh Nepal Nirath, in comparison, is an unknown Sun Temple. It is on the banks of Sutlej just before Rampur in Himachal Pradesh. The Sun temple is quaint and about a 1000 years old. The temple is believed to be one of the five established by Parashurama himself. The deity is Surya. There is also a combined image of Shiva-Vishnu carrying Trishul as well as Sankha-Cakra. Source: Temples of Himachal Pradesh, Eicher Picture Credit: S. R. Ramanujam Nirath, in comparison, is an unknown Sun Temple. It is on the banks of Sutlej just before Rampur in Himachal Pradesh. The Sun temple is quaint and about a 1000 years old. The temple is believed to be one of the five established by Parashurama himself. The deity is Surya. There is also a combined image of Shiva-Vishnu carrying Trishul as well as Sankha-Cakra. Source: Temples of Himachal Pradesh, Eicher Picture Credit: S. R. Ramanujam 6 / 7 The Konark sun temple is one of the most celebrated monuments of India. It is a UNESCO world heritage structure. The main structure (vimana) does not exist and only the assembly hall remains. That itself rivals any other monument in aesthetics. In traditional temple terminology, what is the assembly hall, the remaining structure, called? Jagmohan Natyamandapa Mukhamandapa Toran The assembly hall is called Jagmohan. The Sun Temple is the pinnacle of Hindu Orissan architecture and is unique in terms of its sculptural innovations and the quality of its carvings. According to textual evidence, it is believed that Narasimha I (who reigned between 1238 and 1264) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty commissioned the temple. The Sun Temple may have been built to celebrate Narasimha’s military victory over Muslim forces in Bengal. The main structure, vimana, of the temple collapsed in the 19th century. It reached a height of 227 feet (69 m). The entrance hall retains its pyramidal roof structure, but it cannot be entered because the entire building was filled with stone and sand in the 19th century to ensure it did not also collapse. Source: www.britannica.com/place/Konark Picture Credit: S. R. Ramanujam The assembly hall is called Jagmohan. The Sun Temple is the pinnacle of Hindu Orissan architecture and is unique in terms of its sculptural innovations and the quality of its carvings. According to textual evidence, it is believed that Narasimha I (who reigned between 1238 and 1264) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty commissioned the temple. The Sun Temple may have been built to celebrate Narasimha’s military victory over Muslim forces in Bengal. The main structure, vimana, of the temple collapsed in the 19th century. It reached a height of 227 feet (69 m). The entrance hall retains its pyramidal roof structure, but it cannot be entered because the entire building was filled with stone and sand in the 19th century to ensure it did not also collapse. Source: www.britannica.com/place/Konark Picture Credit: S. R. Ramanujam 7 / 7 This is perhaps the only ancient Sun temple, which though damaged, is more or less intact, along with a Surya Kund. Where is this Sun Temple? Ranakpur in Rajasthan Nirath in Himachal Pradesh Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh Modhera in Gujarat In Gujarat prevalence of the sun worship is indicated by the number of inscriptions and remains of stone sculptures. The temple at Modhera is the most important of all sun-temples built in the whole of Gujarat. It enjoys the same significance as other two well known sun-temples in Kashmir (Martand) and Orissa (Konark). According to the Skanda Purana (3.2.40-67) after defeating Ravana, Lord Rama consulted Muni Vasishta to show him a place of pilgrimage where he could go and purify himself. The Muni showed him dharmaranya, where Modherak or Modhera is situated. The famous sun temple was constructed in 1026-27 A.D. during the reign of Chalukya King Bhima I (1022-1063 A.D.). Though the temple has suffered extensive damages due to invasions, it still retains its original grandeur. But apart from its material beauty, its designer has succeeded in communicating to it an atmosphere of spiritual grace. The temple faces the east. The rising sun at the equinoxes filters in a golden cadence through its openings, from door way to corridor, past columned vestibules finally to fall on the image in its innermost chamber. Source: Dr. Advaitavadini Kaul, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts Picture Credit: S. R. Ramanujam In Gujarat prevalence of the sun worship is indicated by the number of inscriptions and remains of stone sculptures. The temple at Modhera is the most important of all sun-temples built in the whole of Gujarat. It enjoys the same significance as other two well known sun-temples in Kashmir (Martand) and Orissa (Konark). According to the Skanda Purana (3.2.40-67) after defeating Ravana, Lord Rama consulted Muni Vasishta to show him a place of pilgrimage where he could go and purify himself. The Muni showed him dharmaranya, where Modherak or Modhera is situated. The famous sun temple was constructed in 1026-27 A.D. during the reign of Chalukya King Bhima I (1022-1063 A.D.). Though the temple has suffered extensive damages due to invasions, it still retains its original grandeur. But apart from its material beauty, its designer has succeeded in communicating to it an atmosphere of spiritual grace. The temple faces the east. The rising sun at the equinoxes filters in a golden cadence through its openings, from door way to corridor, past columned vestibules finally to fall on the image in its innermost chamber. Source: Dr. Advaitavadini Kaul, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts Picture Credit: S. R. Ramanujam Please share your email id if you would like to receive alerts for future quizzes (or) your number if you would like to be part of the quiz whatsapp group. The information you share will be used only for these purposes. This is entirely voluntary. You can also join the quiz whatsapp group through this link Join the Notification Only Quiz Group Your score is The average score is 0%Share the Sun Temples with your friends and relatives. 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1 / 7
A famous medieval sun temple, in present day Pakistan, was among the first temples to be sacked by Arab invaders. It was destroyed by Muhammed bin Qasim who led the expedition to capture Sindh between 708-11 CE. In which city was it located?
Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveller who came to India in the 7th century CE refers to the Multan temple with a golden deity. It was first sacked by bin Qasim. The devotees rebuilt the temple with a different idol made of wood and covered by red Cordovan leather. The popularity of the temple was such that the Muslim rulers used the idol as a hostage to deter any attempts to reconquer Multan. A Persian chronicler Istakhari noted in 951CE, “when the Indians make war upon them and endeavour to seize the idol, the inhabitants bring it out, pretending that they will break it and burn it. Upon this the Indians retire.” The temple was destroyed and rebuilt a few more times being finally destroyed in the reign of Aurangzeb. The site is now lost.
The picture is that of devotees at Sunrise in Kanyakumari, the southern tip of the mainland. A structure can disappear, but the faith stays.
Source: Flight of Deities & Rebirth of Temples. Meenakshi Jain.
Picture Credit: S. R Ramanujam
2 / 7
One of the famous pilgrimage sites of India also was the location of 14 Sun temples. These were razed after 12th century but remnants of them still are worshipped. Which pilgrimage site is this?
The first sections of the Kashi Khanda list 12 adityas in Varanasi. Later chapters give descriptions of two more adityas (Sumantvaditya and Karnaditya), bringing the number of temples and shrines up to fourteen. Each of the original fourteen aditya temples of Varanasi was razed by invaders. However, the adityas remained in the communal memory of the city. Today, the fourteen adityas are marked by a variety of small and unpretentious features such as carved Sun disks, lotus-form stones or images of Surya, which are set into walls, installed in small shrines or the precincts of temples.
The picture is of Lolarka Kunda in Varanasi, which has an image of trembling Sun.
Source: Malville, J. McKim and Singh, Rana P.B. 1995 i. Visual astronomy in the mythology and ritual of India: The Sun temples of Varanasi.
Picture Credit: Rana P.B. Singh
3 / 7
The Hindi film Haidar had a song filmed at the ruins of a sun temple built by the great Kashmiri king Lalitaditya Mukatapida of the Karakota dynasty. He ruled in the first half of the 8th century CE. He is sometimes described as a world conqueror having defeated kings from Central Asia to Bengal and from Kanauj to the Deccan. What is name of this temple?
Martand was a famous Sun temple. Legend connects the spring of Martand tirtha with the production of the Sun from a lifeless egg (mrtanda). The temple was destroyed by the Kashmiri king Sikander Shah (1389-1413CE) called Butsikhan (Iconoclast). A British explorer Francis Younghusband, described it as, “the finest structure, typical of Kashmiri architecture at its best, built on the most sublime site occupied by any building in the world, far finer than the site of Parthenon, or of the Taj, or of St Peters, or of the Escurial.”
Picture Credit: Varun Shiv Kapur Flickr
4 / 7
Suryanar Temple is a well known Surya temple. It is part of a unique group nine temples which are dedicated to the worship of Navagrahas or nine planets. In which Indian State is this located?
Suryanar Kovil is located near the village of Aduthurai, near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. It is also close to the Great Living Chola Temples of the Tanjore region. Suryanar Kovil is a part of a group of nine temples, each dedicated to one of the Nava Grahas. They are popularly visited as the Navagraha circuit. The presiding deity here is Suriyanar, the Sun, present along with his two consorts Ushadevi and Pratyusha Devi. The temple also has subsidiary shrines for the other eight Navagrahas.
Source: Navagraha Temples of the Tanjor Disctrict. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Picture Credit: P Jeganathan Wikicommons
5 / 7
This unknown Sun Temple is in the Himalayas and is 1000 years old. Where is this Sun Temple?
Nirath, in comparison, is an unknown Sun Temple. It is on the banks of Sutlej just before Rampur in Himachal Pradesh. The Sun temple is quaint and about a 1000 years old. The temple is believed to be one of the five established by Parashurama himself. The deity is Surya. There is also a combined image of Shiva-Vishnu carrying Trishul as well as Sankha-Cakra.
Source: Temples of Himachal Pradesh, Eicher
Picture Credit: S. R. Ramanujam
6 / 7
The Konark sun temple is one of the most celebrated monuments of India. It is a UNESCO world heritage structure. The main structure (vimana) does not exist and only the assembly hall remains. That itself rivals any other monument in aesthetics. In traditional temple terminology, what is the assembly hall, the remaining structure, called?
The assembly hall is called Jagmohan. The Sun Temple is the pinnacle of Hindu Orissan architecture and is unique in terms of its sculptural innovations and the quality of its carvings. According to textual evidence, it is believed that Narasimha I (who reigned between 1238 and 1264) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty commissioned the temple. The Sun Temple may have been built to celebrate Narasimha’s military victory over Muslim forces in Bengal. The main structure, vimana, of the temple collapsed in the 19th century. It reached a height of 227 feet (69 m). The entrance hall retains its pyramidal roof structure, but it cannot be entered because the entire building was filled with stone and sand in the 19th century to ensure it did not also collapse.
Source: www.britannica.com/place/Konark
7 / 7
This is perhaps the only ancient Sun temple, which though damaged, is more or less intact, along with a Surya Kund. Where is this Sun Temple?
In Gujarat prevalence of the sun worship is indicated by the number of inscriptions and remains of stone sculptures. The temple at Modhera is the most important of all sun-temples built in the whole of Gujarat. It enjoys the same significance as other two well known sun-temples in Kashmir (Martand) and Orissa (Konark). According to the Skanda Purana (3.2.40-67) after defeating Ravana, Lord Rama consulted Muni Vasishta to show him a place of pilgrimage where he could go and purify himself. The Muni showed him dharmaranya, where Modherak or Modhera is situated. The famous sun temple was constructed in 1026-27 A.D. during the reign of Chalukya King Bhima I (1022-1063 A.D.). Though the temple has suffered extensive damages due to invasions, it still retains its original grandeur. But apart from its material beauty, its designer has succeeded in communicating to it an atmosphere of spiritual grace. The temple faces the east. The rising sun at the equinoxes filters in a golden cadence through its openings, from door way to corridor, past columned vestibules finally to fall on the image in its innermost chamber.
Source: Dr. Advaitavadini Kaul, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts
Please share your email id if you would like to receive alerts for future quizzes (or) your number if you would like to be part of the quiz whatsapp group. The information you share will be used only for these purposes.
This is entirely voluntary. You can also join the quiz whatsapp group through this link Join the Notification Only Quiz Group
Your score is
The average score is 0%
Share the Sun Temples with your friends and relatives.
Restart quiz Exit
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